UO statement: LeGarrette Blount's actions under further review

Thomas Boyd/The OregonianOregon coach Chip Kelly escorts LaGarrette Blount off the field tonight after Blount punched Boise State's Byron Hout after the game. The Ducks lost 19-8 at Bronco Stadium in Boise.

The University of Oregon issued a statement today saying it "is reviewing the situation'' surrounding LeGarrette Blount's actions after Thursday night's game at Boise State and any resulting punishment.

"We do not and will not tolerate the actions that were taken by our player,'' UO president Richard Lariviere said in the statement. "Oregon's loyal fans expect and deserve better.''

Blount threw a nationally televised tirade after the embarrassing 19-8 loss to the Broncos, the Oregon head coaching debut of Chip Kelly.

Blount punched BSU linebacker Byron Hout in the face after Hout appeared to be taunting him, then Blount took a shot at teammate Garrett Embry before charging at some fans behind the end zone at Bronco Stadium.
The Pac-10 Conference also will review tape of the incident.

Pac-10 spokesman Jim Muldoon said commissioner Larry Scott was on his way back this morning from Boise, where he attended the game and saw the altercation.

Kelly said he didn't see the incident, but he is expected to announce the disciplinary action later this afternoon.

"There is no place on the field of play for that kind of action, and his conduct was reprehensible,'' the statement said. "We then hope to put this incident behind us and look forward to the rest of the season.''

As the nation's sports fans spent the morning debating the sucker punch and what punishment might be handed down, Blount was with the team at the Casanova Center in Eugene. He sat eating lunch with teammates in the Pittman Room before the team's afternoon practice. TVs in a hallway of the Casanova Center, often turned to ESPN, instead air a simple Ducks' "O" logo this morning.

Players were not available to comment until after practice.

Late Thursday night, Blount didn't want to talk about what happened but felt it was in his best interest to do so.

"I just apologize to everybody that was watching this - ESPN, national TV - I just apologize to all of our fans, all the Boise fans,'' Blount said. "It was just something that I shouldn't have done. I lost my head, and I shouldn't have taken it that far.''

Blount had made headlines before the game when he was quoted as saying the Ducks owe the Broncos "a (butt) whuppin' after last year's 37-32 upset at Oregon. On Thursday night, it was Boise State, again, doing the whuppin,' until Blount took out his frustrations.

After carrying the ball eight times for minus-five yards, Blount got an earful from some Broncos after the game. And when Hout touched Blount's shoulder pads and had some words for the senior, Blount sucker-punched him. Blount was restrained by his teammates, but he also delivered a shot to teammate Garrett Embry, who was trying to be peacemaker.

Then, when receivers coach Scott Frost and a police offer tried to wrestle an angry Blount to the locker room, he got into it again with some fans behind the end zone. It was replayed over and again on ESPN. The national exposure that Kelly had courted had backfired.

Blount said he will stand by whatever punishment Kelly and the Ducks decide upon.

"I don't know what kind of disciplinary action coach Kelly has in store for me, but whatever it is, I'm ready to take (it),'' he said.